Major League Baseball Players to provide $250,000 matching grant to expand
Action Team youth volunteer initiative

In honor of All-Star Game, Action Team expansion to begin in Detroit

MLB Players Association

DETROIT -- The Major League Baseball Players Trust today announced the pledge of a $250,000 matching grant for Volunteers of America to expand the Action Team youth volunteer initiative. Action Teams are made up of Major Leaguers and high school students, working together to inspire the next generation of volunteers.

In honor of the 2005 All-Star Game and related activities, the Players Trust has earmarked a portion of the contribution to help launch the Detroit Action Team this September, joining Boston, Denver, Minnesota and Philadelphia. Plans call for the Action Team to become a national program, and todays grant will help make this possible.

Major League baseball players are honored to be working with Volunteers of America to inspire high school students to get involved supporting causes they believe in, said Detroit Tigers designated hitter, Dmitri Young. Its is rewarding to get involved with the communities that support us. Action Teams give kids a chance to get those same rewarding feelings.

Volunteers of America Michigan CEO Alex Brodrick said, The Action Team is an exciting program that provides wonderful volunteer opportunities for our areas youth. Not only will the Action Team help the needy, but team members will discover the joy, satisfaction, and importance of volunteering in their own communities.

Detroit area high school students will have the opportunity to volunteer in a wide variety of programs and efforts that help children, families and seniors, Brodrick said.

Action Teams in Denver and Minnesota, in just 12 months, inspired nearly 2,000 students to log over 3,000 hours of community service assisting over 8,200 people in need. Players involved in Action Teams include Matt Mantei, David Ortiz and Jason Varitek (Boston); Shawn Chacon, Jason Jennings and Cory Sullivan (Denver); Lew Ford and J.C. Romero (Minnesota) and Bobby Abreu, Jimmy Rollins and Randy Wolf (Philadelphia).

Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit organization providing local human service programs and opportunities for individual and community involvement. Volunteers of America served more than 1.8 million people last year. For more than 100 years, Volunteers of America has provided help for at-risk youth, abused and neglected children, homeless individuals and families, seniors and the elderly, and people with disabilities. For more information about Volunteers of America, visit www.VolunteersofAmerica.org.

The Major League Baseball Players Trust has partnered with Volunteers of America to promote the nurturing and well-being of Americas children and youth. Through this partnership more than 100 Major League baseball players have been actively involved supporting Volunteers of America programs that help children and families. For more information about the Major League Baseball Players Trust, please visit www.MLBPLAYERS.com.